Primary battery.



- PATENTED JUNE '25, 1907.

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0 2 1+ Q A O 8 a irm li Mw ldw oo 00 O 4 m m 6 1 Hum WITNESSES Ufslrrmsnares ATENT OFFICE.

chimeras HITE, or PlillJADElJPl'l 1A, lENNSYLVANIA, Assicnon To HITEieilrcriuc COMPANY, ACORPORATION or DELAWARE.

Penn/Aer EATTERY."

I Specification of Letters yatent.

Patented are e5, 1907.

Application filed November 15, 190 i. Serial No. 232,796..

To a 107201. 1, it 712/621] cancel-72 Be it knownlthatl, CHARLES E.Hrrn, a

being to .produce a battery ofcells arranged in multiple, series, ormultiple series.

My invention provides means for the circulation of an electrolyte orexciting fluid come mon to all thecells at the same time and so as tomaintain a constant current at a constant voltage. l

My invention also comprises means whereby,'bythe series arrangement ofcells, a high voltage and low current is obtained, resulting in theminimum of consumption of zinc or negative element, and therebydecreasing the cost per watt hour.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of my battery withone end removed and showing the perforated vessel'at the top in avertical section and also a two-way valve on the left in section. Fig.2is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the upper part of a cell.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, i. provide the three compartments; 1, 2 and 3, oneabove the other in the order-named, made of hard acid 'proof rubber, orother suitable material.

These compartments may be contained in one vessel or structure or. maybeentirely separate so long as their relative positions are maintainedfor the proper circulation of the electrolyte. Compartment 1- ispreferably detachable from the structure beneath it at i, 4 sothat itmay be removed to give access to compartment 2 containing'the batteries.

Through thetop of-compartment' 1 issuepended the perforatedvessel 5which is adapt ed to receive the acid'bi chromate compound in the solidstate This vessel is providedwith a removable cover6,waterbei'ng pouredinto vessel through the compound. The electrolyte solution flows intocompartment 1 an air valve 6 is provided in the cover 6 which may beopened when the battery is in operation and may be closedwhen thebattery is out of operation. In compartment 2 are placed the batterycells 8, one of which is shown in vertical section. These cells as abovestated, may be connected in any combination of series, or multiple ormultiple se ries.' Compartment 2 may be further divided insub-compartments 9, 10 and 11,; 9 and 10 being separated by thepartition 12, having apertures to permit the projection of the cellstherethrough while 10 and llare separated by the perforated partition13. Through partition 12 project the upper ends of cells 8 while thelower ends of these cells rest andare sealed in the countersunk portionof par-- tition 13 and open through corresponding openings in saidpartition 13 into the subcom artment 11. Near the upper extension of cels 8 are provided a horizontal row of perforations 14 ust below thepartition 12. The conducting pipe 15 carries the electrolyte fromcompartment 1 to subcompa'rtment 11 by gravity, and said electrolytepasses upwardly throughsaid cells 8 and outwardly" through the apertures14 into sub-compartment 10 from 1 whence it is carried through pipe 16to filter 17 and thence to the overflow compartment 3. The cells 14 aresurrounded by an exterior coating of insulation, vsuch for instance asan acid proof paint or varnish, extending from partition 12 topartition13, It will thus be noticed that the electrolyte travelsupwardly through; each cell from sub-compartment 1 1 out throughapertures 14 into sub-compartment 10 and thence through filter 17 tocompartment to or greater thanthe cross section dimen-' sion of eachcell. It thus follows that the It is to be understood that thecompartments 1, 2, 3, and 11 .are

width of thevolume of electrolyte in compartment ]-1, connecting all ofthe cells is equal to or greater than the cross section di mension ofany cell. It is important that the volume of.connecting electrolyteshould be a relatively substantial one, as above derings 18 for thepurpose of electrical connection with the zinc of theadjoinin cell. Itwill thus be seen that during the i ow of the back pressure through pipe16.

. cured thereto and is adapted to rest upon the the binding post32..

energy is generated.

returned from compartment 3 back to compartment 1 through pipe 19-forwhich purpose the air pump 20 is provided communicating through pipeZliwith the upper part of compartment 3.for the purpose of forcing airunder pressure into compartment 3. A suitable check valve being providedto prevent When it is desired to arbitrarily interrupt the flow o lelectrolyte through the cells the two-way valve 22 may be turned fromthe position shown in Fig. l in which communication is maintainedthrough pipe 15 and 23 into the position which will cut oil suchcommunica tion between 23 and 15 and establish co 1ri:-- muricationbetween 23 and 24:. This will not only prevent the further flow ofelectrolyte through pipe 15 to sub-compartment 11 but will also permitof the flow of electrolyte from sub-compartment 11 to compartment 3 thusresulting in immediately emptying all the cells of electrolyte. 1 5 InFig. 2 I show a convenient means for utilizing the usual zinc 25 in itsusual .commercia-lform. I provide a metallic sleeve '26 being threadedinteriorly and adapted to cooperate with the threaded projection 27 ofzinc 25-and adapted to receive at its upper end the. threaded projectionof'the binding screw 28. This sleeve 26 is surrounded by the insulatingmember 29 which is firinlyseshoulders 30 of the carbon cells 8. It willthus be noted that by locating the apertures 14 almostat the upperextension of the zinc 25 the maximum use of said zinc is secured. As theconsumption of the zinc is more rapid at its upper extension it ispreferable to make the zinc el ctrodes slightly tapering toward theirlower extensions, as shown in Fig. l. The cells are connected in theusual way for example thefirst carbon 8 to the" left is connects to thebinding post 31 and the zinc of that c rbon is connected to the nexta'djoining carbon" and so on to the right hand end bf the row wherethe'z'inc is connected to While I have "described, as a specificinstance of the manner of working of my invention, the use of a carbonand zinc couple, and an acid bichromate electrolyte, it is obvious thatI may readily use a different couple and a different exciting fluid andstill be within the scope of my invention. What Iclaimis:-

having a horizontal dimension v greater than the horizontal dimensionsof the 1. In a'primary battery the combination and then downwardly uponthe outside walls thereof.

3. In a primary battery the combination of a plurality of cells, a bodyof electrolyte having horizontal dimensions equal to or greater than thehorizontal dimensions of the 'e elIs, the cells opening at their bottomsinto said body of electrolyte and means for. causing a flow ofelectrolyte upwardly through the cells and then downwardly upon the outside wallsthereof.

a. In a primary battery the combination of a plurahty' of couples, oneof each couple forming or contributing in the formation of a compartmentopen at the bottom, a body of electrolyte communicating with eachcornpartment through the bottom thereof and ual to or compartments, andmeans for causing a flow 01" theelectrolyte upwardly through thecompartments and then downwardly upon the outside walls thereof.

. 5. In a primary battery the-combination of areservoir, meansfor-producing and introducing thereto an electrol te, 'a plurality ofcells, means for causing a low of the elec trolyte from the reservoir uwardly through side walls thereof, meansfor receiving the overflow ofelectrolyte from said cells and for returning the electrolyte back tothe reservoir and means for arbitrarily interrupting the flow ofelectrolyte from the.,reservoir t6 the cells and at the same timedrawing off electrolyte from the cells.

6. In a primary battery, the combination of a reservoir, means forproducing and introducmg thereto an electrolyte, a plurality of cells,means for causing the flow of the electrolyte from the reservoir throughthe' cellsand then downwar 1y upon the outside walls thereof, and, meansfor receiving the overflow of electrolyte from said cells and forfiltering-the same.

7. In a primary battery, the

Walls, a body ofelectrolyte, the cells opening at their bottoms intosaid body, and means for causing the flow of electrolyte from said bodyupwardly through the cellsand then downwardly upon the outside-of said.cells and over said'insu'lationw upwardly I combination of a pluralityof cells having insulated outer 1 5 the cells and then downwar 1y uponthe out- 8. In a-primary battery, the combination of a plurality ofcells having insulated outer Walls, a body of electrolyte, the cellsopening at their bottoms into said body, means for causing the flow ofelectrolyte from said body upwardly throughv the cel s and thendownwardly upon the outside of said cells and over said Insulation, anda common chamber or receptacle for receiving the overflow ofelectrolyte. 7

9. In a primary battery, the combination of a plurality of cells havinginsulated outer Walls, a body of electrolyte, the cells opening 'attheir bottoms into said. body, means for causing the flow of electrol'te from said body upwardly through the cel s and then downwardly uponthe outside of said cells and over said insulation; a common chamber orreceptacle for receiving the overflow of electrolyte, and means forfiltering the electrolyte as it passes therefrom.

' CHARLES E. HITE.

Witnesses:

MAE HOFMANN, HORACE D. REEVE.

